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2016 graduating class largest in Onion Lake high school's history

Author of the article:

Morgan Modjeski • Saskatoon StarPhoenix

Publishing date:

June 8, 2016 • 2 minute read

Grade 12 students at Eagleview Comprehensive High School, Sarah Rowan, left, and Tianna Benson, pose for a photo with the school's principal, Darryl Whitstone and classmates Keenan Gadwa and Lane Morningchild. The students will soon become part of Onion Lake history, as Eagleview is set to send off the largest graduating class of its 24 year history.(Supplied/ Eagleview Comprehensive High School.)

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An enthusiastic principal, culturally focused activities like an “amazing bannock race,” and the determination of its students has helped Eagleview Comprehensive High School in Onion Lake, Sask. graduate the largest class in its 24-year history.

This year, 60 students are expected to graduate — including 30 female students. Principal Darryl Whitstone said the class is symbolic of the hard work done by teachers and students.

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Tianna Benson is one of those students.

She said it was a “great honour” to be involved in this important part of the school’s history.

“It’s hoping, for the next generation, that there will be more to come,” said Benson, who is headed to Lakeland College in preparation to become a teacher. It’s important to be a role model, she said.

“I want to set a good example for the young children in telling them that you can make it in this world — you don’t have to live on the res your whole life, you’re smart — and encouraging them.”

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Benson said she hopes to return to Onion Lake after her training to make the community “better” and “stronger.” Some of her peers share the same goal.

Sarah Rowan, who will graduate alongside Benson at the end of the school year, said she’s grown up wanting to help people. She’s also set to attend Lakeland College, and is ready to start the next part of her journey helping people in Onion Lake.

“I haven’t lived here long, and I do see some faults in it, but I do wish to make it better for both me, my family, the rest of the community and the future generations,” she said. “Since I was a child, it’s always been my goal to better others, not just myself.”

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From left to right, Grade 12 students at Eagleview Comprehensive High School, Sarah Rowan and Tianna Benson, pose for a photo with the school’s principal, Darryl Whitstone and classmates Lane Morningchild and Keenan Gadwa. The students will soon become part of Onion Lake history, as Eagleview is set to send off the largest graduating class in its 24-year history. (Supplied/ Eagleview Comprehensive High School.)(Supplied/ Eagleview Comprehensive High School.)

Whitstone said teachers at the school have been listening carefully to the students about what they want from their education, and the focus the school puts on indigenous culture has helped them succeed.

Alongside the school’s annual cultural camps, an example of cultural-focused learning is “the amazing bannock race” — a massive relay where students have to complete tasks like canoeing, fire-making, hunting, and braiding to acquire ingredients for bannock and tea in order to be declared the victor.

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Those lessons are important, Whitstone said.

“They need to know who they are and they need to be proud of who they are. Too many times, you watch youth and they’re acting different, like what they see on MTV or any music video,” he said.

“They play those parts and try to live those parts, but that’s not who they are. They are First Nations children. What’s a better way to get them to understand that than through cultural activities?”

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